SINGAPORE — A 22-year-old man was convicted on Jan 15 by the High Court of raping his younger cousin at his home when he was a teenager.The assaults took place between 2016 and 2018, when the perpetrator was between 12 and 15 years old and his victim between eight and 10 years old.The man, who denied all the allegations, went on trial in May 2025 on three charges.On Jan 15, he was convicted of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault by penetration.In a written judgment, Justice Valerie Thean found the victim's testimony on these two charges to be unusually convincing.On the other hand, the man's evidence was not credible, said the judge.The judge acquitted him of the third charge of rape because the victim could not give sufficient details about a specific incident.Justice Thean said: «While I accept she was a truthful witness, I am concerned with the sufficiency of detail on (the charge). I find it unsafe to hold that the prosecution has met its burden of proof on this charge.»

A teenager is among five persons to be charged in court on Friday (Jan 16) for their alleged involvement in money mule and scam-related activities.The five persons —three men, a woman and the teen — aged between 18 and 32, are suspected to be involved in offences such as cheating, unauthorised access to computer materials, unauthorised disclosure of Singpass access code, assisting in retaining proceeds from criminal conduct, and abetting by conspiracy to commit cheating.Police said on Thursday night that the 18-year-old had allegedly set up two bank accounts in April 2025, with the intention of surrendering the internet banking credentials to a criminal syndicate.He was promised $1,000 for each bank account, but had received only $1,000 after relinquishing both accounts. For his actions, he will be charged with four counts of abetting by conspiracy to commit cheating and abetting to secure unauthorised access to computer systems. The offence of abetting by conspiracy to commit cheating carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine, or both.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong was sworn in on Thursday (Jan 14) by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam as a member of the President Council for Minority Rights (PCMR).According to the President's Office, the role of the council is to examine all legislation to ensure that they are not disadvantageous to any racial or religious community. It also considers matters affecting any racial or religious community referred by Parliament or the Government. Finally, the council also advises the President on nominations to the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony, Malay Community Committee and the Indian and other minorities communities committee.Former Singapore prime ministers had been appointed as permanent members of the council, which is currently chaired by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon. Some of the permanent members are: Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam, former foreign minister S Dhanabalan and former Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi.Writing in a Facebook post on Thursday, PM Wong acknowledged the important work of the PCMR.

Four motorists, aged between 32 and 53, were arrested as part of an island-wide night enforcement operation on New Year's Eve, the Traffic Police said on Thursday (Jan 15).They were arrested for offences including driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without a valid driving licence.A total of 89 vehicles were stopped for checks.An additional 103 summonses were issued for other traffic offences such as using a mobile phone while driving, speeding and using an unapproved helmet.Under the Road Traffic Act 1961, motorists caught for driving while under the influence of alcohol may face a minimum fine of $2,000, up to $10,000, or imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both.Repeat offenders face a fine between $5,000 and $20,000 and imprisonment for up to two years.Offenders may also face disqualification from driving all classes of vehicles.Driving without a valid licence carries a fine of up to $10,000 and a jail term of up to three years. The penalty is doubled for repeat offenders, and their vehicles may also be forfeited.

Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) is working with Sats to refine bento meals, recipes and food presentation, and exploring establishing an on-site kitchen, said principal Lee Peck Ping on Thursday (Jan 15). On Thursday (Jan 15), members of the media were invited to tour the new hybrid canteen and sample the bento boxes served by Sats.Lee, 47, said: «We have been engaging students and parents since 2024 as part of our plans to roll out this new canteen model. This is to really address the sustainability of the existing school canteen as well as to address the queue times.» The bento set options sparked online attention recently after a netizen likened the offered pre-packed meals to «cookhouse food» served in the military.On Jan 3, Reddit user Taenyfan95 shared photos of two bento lunch options, claiming it was what Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) students were offered. The two meals shown consisted of rice with a side of vegetables and protein, plated in turquoise-coloured trays. 

A 41-year-old male motorcyclist was taken to hospital on Wednesday (Jan 14) afternoon after an accident with another motorcycle along the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE).The accident happened at about 3.05pm, along the BKE towards the Pan Island Expressway.In a video posted by SG Road Vigilante, two motorcycles were seen travelling - one behind the other - between the first and second lanes of the expressway. The 41-year-old was riding in the rear motorcycle. As they neared a lorry on the second lane, the motorcycle ahead slowed down. The 41-year-old tried applying his emergency brakes but still came into contact with the other motorcycle.The impact caused him to skid and bump into the lorry, now on his left. This second contact presumably caused the motorcyclist to skid towards the railing on his right. He then crashed into the railing, narrowly missing the other motorcycle.

Two SBS Transit bus captains have received plaudits for jumping in to extinguish a car fire in Ang Mo Kio.Responding to AsiaOne's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to a vehicle fire along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 at about 7.45am on Thursday (Jan 15).Footage of the incident posted by TikTok user rjlovesdriving on Thursday afternoon shows a black BMW stopped in the middle of the road as plumes of thick smoke billow out of its shut front bonnet.The driver, who had got out of the car, then opens the bonnet to reveal fiery flames which engulfs the front of the car.At the same time, a bus captain of service 133 races over with a fire extinguisher and douses the car and the blaze wanes slightly.

The body of a 76-year-old man was found dead at the foot of an HDB block in Punggol on Thursday (Jan 15).He is believed to have fallen from height.A video of the incident posted on Facebook group Singapore Incidents on Thursday shows a police tent placed over the body. A police cardon is seen around an area of the estate's driveway, in front of the centralised refuse chute of two blocks.Four police fast response cars are also seen in the video.

Pritam Singh's designation as the Leader of the Opposition (LO) will end «with immediate effect», Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in a statement on Thursday (Jan 15).In his statement, PM Wong highlighted how Parliament had voted to express its view that Singh was unsuitable for his role as LO, adding that Singh had disagreed with court findings and «maintained his innocence».Explaining that Singh is entitled to his personal views on the matter, PM Wong asserted that «questions of guilt or innocence are determined through the impartial court process».His conviction by the District Court on two counts of lying to the Committee of Privileges (COP) followed by the dismissal of his appeal to the High Court is a «final and conclusive» legal outcome that must be respected, PM Wong said.«Having considered the matter carefully, I have decided that Singh’s criminal convictions, taken together with Parliament’s considered view of his unsuitability, make it no longer tenable for him to continue as the LO,» he stated.